CAIRO – 3 December 2018: Egypt's Defense Minister Mohamed Zaki met with the two top officials besides Panos Kammenos, the Greek Defense Minister, on the sidelines of EDEX-2018 to discuss regional and international developments, and means to enhance military cooperation with France, Greece and Cyprus.

In similar vein, In a meeting that came on the margins of EDEX-2018 between President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Cypriot Defense Minister Savvas Angelides, Angelides praised Egypt for organizing the military exhibition, and expressed his admiration of the special participation of the world's leading companies in this field, which confirms Egypt's pivotal role in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady added.

Angelides also lauded the special relations between the two countries, affirming the aspiration of his country to continue to open new ways for cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus to serve the interests of the two friendly peoples.

Sisi also met with French Minister of Armed Forced Florence Parly on the sidelines of EDEX-2018.

During the meeting Parly confirmed her keenness to attend the "EDEX-2018," saying that her country is proud of the participation of the French companies in the exhibition. The minister also expressed congratulations to Egypt on the successful organization of such event.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance military cooperation between the two countries, as well as the latest developments in regional and international issues of common concern, especially ways to combat terrorism and reduce the danger of terrorist elements and their transfer from hotbeds of tension to other areas, Rady said.

During the meeting, President Sisi stressed the depth of the strategic relations between Egypt and France, praising the existing cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially in the military field.

Sisi also expressed the hope to develop bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of both countries and contributes to the development and prosperity of their peoples, Precidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.

The "EDEX-2018" opened Monday with the participation of 41 countries and 376 companies and is scheduled to last for three days.

The inauguration was attended by Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and many other officials.

Organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and Military Production, "EDEX-2018" will attract more than 10,000 visitors interested in the field of armaments and defense industries.

The exhibition hosts 373 international companies from 41 countries, including 42 U.S. companies, 37 French companies, 28 Chinese companies and 13 Russian companies.

Additionally, seven main arms departments from the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany, Italy and UAE will participate in the exhibition and several military authorities will give educational lectures on the sidelines of the exhibition.

As for the Egyptian pavilion in the exhibition, Egyptian military products, including arms and equipment jointly manufactured by the Armed Forces, the National Organization for Military Production (NOMP), and the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) will be included in the exhibition.